German Provincial Parliament Debates Bill on Reparations Payments

December 19, 1951

DUSSELDORF (Dec. 18)

Sharp debates featured a discussion here of a proposed reparations law for the province of North Rhine-Westphalia. The debates took place in the provincial parliament when various amendments were preoposed to the measure.

It is expected that the bill will be presented in its final form some time next month. It is estimated that payments totalling 756,000,000 German marks will be made if the bill becomes law. One criticism of the measure was voiced by a deputy who opposed the use of taxes to meet reparations obligations.

The parliament of the Federal German Republic last week decided to establish a committee to prepare Federal reparations laws and to co-ordinate the work of the various provincial states in the sphere of restitution.